xp version of word

[Val Murphy]

Hi.
I'm having a problem with microsoft word on an xp machine.
I have a book manuscript that I moved over from a prior 98
machine. It had been revised multiple times on my prior
system and saved to floppy disk. when I got my new system
it had xp. in then working on the manuscript and doing
multiple revisions and saves it started acting strangely -
removing the paragraph format changing font sizes and
finally completely locking me out. I then transferred a
copy to disk and tried it on another 98 machine and had the
same result. locked out for any revisions
The machine I am working on is rarely on the internet and
does have a virus protect program so I don't think that is
the issue.
Recently, I started working on a second manuscript same
situation copied from a disk saved from the 98 machine to
the xp machine and after two revisions it has started doing
the same thing. The manuscript was broken into three
pieces of approx 72 pages each and the problem is clearly
caused by doing revisions and saving them as the other two
sections are not having any problems when I go make changes
and then undo them and close out. Has anyone seen this or
can you give me an idea of what to do other than re-typing
two entire manuscripts? Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Edward]

Can't say I've seen exactly what you describe, Val, but if you saved to the
floppy, rather than save to your hard-drive and then copied to the floppy,
this is the sort of problem that is common.

I have written many manuscripts - upwards of 500 pages - and never had a
problem with floppies. That is because I always save to the hard-drive
first.

I suggest - before you lose the lot - you break out a few pages at a time
and save them to a folder on your hard-drive. Once you have transferred the
whole manuscript, copy it to a text programme such as Notepad. (if it not
too large). This will, hopefully, get rid of the corrupted formatting. Then,
copy it back to Word for reformatting and saving. That should be the end of
your problems.

An MVP may come up with a better idea so keep checking the post for a day or
two.

Good luck,

Ed